Lock mechanism and key therefor.



K. G. THIMAN.

LOCK MECHANISM AND KEY THEREFOR.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 21, 1910.

1 ]l @?,876, Patented Aug.18,1914,

376 fie-i STATES. PATElSI-Tl OFFICE.

' xnur' earnriran, or new roux, n. Y.

odz uncnamsn AND KEY rnnnnron.

20 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Kmrr G. THIMAN a citizen of Sweden, and a resident of the c1ty of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new-and useful Imrovements in Lock Mechanism and Keys therefor, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to locks.

The object thereof is to provide a locking mechanism having a wide range of applicabilit and in which simplicity and cheapness o construction will be compatible with reliability of operation and immunity from e 1 Another ob ect of theinvention is to provide a double edged key for such mechanism omposed of reversible and interchangeable sections.

Further objects and features will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In. the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of the invention, portions thereof being shown in section and other parts omitted. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of. the invention. Fig. 3

15 a central longitudinal section of the invention. Fig. 4 comprises a front and side iew of a segmental s acing block.: Fig. 5 c mprises a side and ent View of aspeclng washer. Fig. 6 1s a side View of a. sect onal key. Fig- 7 is. a front view of a key section. F g. 8 1s a side view partially-in section, showing in full lines a .modified & form of the look mechanism applied to a double ended type of lock recessed into a door. Fig. 9 is a front view of Fig. 8, some elements being omitted and othersshown in a changed position, the conventional parts. of the lock in this andthe preceding View being shown by dot-and-dash lines. Fig. 10

is a front and bottom plan view, respec-:

' tively, of a tumbler. Fig. 11 is a top plan view showing a'modified form of the lock mechanism applied to a pad-lock. Fig. 12 is a partial central longitudinal section of Fig, 11, the operating parts belonging to the lock-mechanism being shown in thisand the preceding view by full lines, and the con- 1 ventional parts of the pad-lock by dot-anddash lines, Fig. 13 is a side view of a'twinkey for use in conjunction with the lockmechanism s n n g 8 nd '9, and Fi I 14 is a front view of Fi 13.

fiefe ing to the s eral p s 1 the drawings the numeral 20 indicates 0. stationary cvlmder or casing rovided inter- Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

nally with opposed upper'and lower loeka he 3 are so cient y large to pro ide clearance for a key, which will be more full hereinafter re erred to. To the said barrel 30 are secured front and rear heads, 34 and 35 respecti y, by means of rods 36 which ,a e trough the washers 31 and segments and a e screwed mto said from ead as well as met d o er into said rear be n 35- -'lho ron h ad 34 has a flange 37, formed. m e a1 he with, which overlaps the fro t e f the ca ing 20, and he rear head 35 has a flange 38 removabl secured theret by scr ws 3 so t at t e bar el WhlCh 1s self-contained may b removed fromthe casing in its entirety without disassocmtmn. f. the. pa t thereofe said barrel 30i'otates truly in the casing 29 v 'tue of the. cyhndricalportions of the said heads 34: a d 35 engag ng the bore of the sai casmg 2 The lower portions 31. of the Washers la so c n orm to the bore of th casing 20 so as oa-flord extra bearing surface.

A bar 40 has. a head'41 which is heldin enga ement With a slot or pocket 42 in the rear y mi 35, by the s id flange The ba 40 1s conne ted up ith t e bo of he lock as is. customary in Such lo k-mechani m- (Fig. 3..)

m The tumblers 45, are slidably received withi hfi Straight-sided recesses formed between the inner edges of the segments 32 and, the faces of the washers 31 and solely thereby. The series of tumb ers Q5 are preferably disposed eecentrically relalers ar of like n ruction and ap rtured for the passage of the key. They are pro.-

' ided at he ends with shoul ers i her .Qf which is, adapted to bear against the lowe por ion of he b re of the a d ca n '2 ,and at. one nd each tumbler ha 'a leeking lip 47 projecting beyond its bearing shoulder and of suitable width to be received 'in one of the several slots 21 to 26, the shoulder opposite the said lip 47, being the wider. (Fig. 10.) A predetermined number of the tumblers are disposed with their locking lips at the bottom and the remaindor with their locking lips at the top, which positions may be designated as inverted and converted, respectively.

Springs 50 bear against the tumblers so as to force all of them in one direction, holding the lips of the inverted tumblers in one of the lower grooves and the converted tumblers with their wide shoulders against the bottom of the bore of the casing and their lips away from the opposite upper groove. These springs may be termed comb-springs, because they consist of a longitudinal body part 51 and a series of parallel spring teeth or fingers (50) at right angles thereto. The

tips of said fingers 50 bear against subshoulders 48 (Fig. 10) formed in the end portions of the several tumblers adjacent to the hereinbefore mentioned bearing shoulders 46. The washers 31 and segments 32 are beveled or chamfered as shown at 52 and 53 respectively, to provide straight inclined faces, against which the body portions 51 of the springs are held clear of the casing 15 by means of screws 54. The inner top and bottom edges of the aperture in said tumblers 45 are beveled from both sides as shown at 49. In each tumbler the beveled edges of the key-opening are equi-distant from the bearing shoulders 45 and in normal position of the parts the inner and bottom edges of all the tumblers. are in. alinement.

The key, as shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7, has two serrated or irregular edges for engagement with the inner top and bottom edges of the said tumblers 45. The construction of the key and tumblers is such that the insertion of a proper key into the barrel lifts all the inverted tumblers so as to release their lips 47 from one of the lower grooves, for instance 22, but does not change the position of the converted tumblers, whose locking lips still remain out of engagement with the upper groove, 21. Near its finger grip '60 the key has a straight portion 61 which fits a corresponding opening 62 in the front head 34 (Fig. 3) by means of which the turning of the barrel 30 is effected. The said opening 62 has an additional function of guiding or centering the key, the irregular parts of the latter merely releasing the tumblers 45. The body of the key is preferably built up of positively located sections 63, to this end said sections are provided centrally on their faces with inter-fitting grooves and ridges 64, and secured together and to the finger grip 60 by means of a screw 65 which passes through the several sections 63 and is threaded into the finger grip portion of the key. The end section 66 of the key is thicker than the others to permit the head of the screw to be counter-sunk therein.

- Each section 63 is provided at its ends with a V-shaped groove 67 and a ridge 68 pointing in the same direction. The several sections can be reversed and arranged at will without disassociating the key, so that the grooves and ridges form continuous irre lar zigzag lines on both of its edges. The sections 63 and the tumblers 45 may be correspondingly numbered or lettered near the ends, for convenience in keepinga record of their permutation. (Figs. 6 and 10.)

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a double ended barrel 3O recessed in a door. In this instance, the barrel 30 has a centrally built-in toothed segment 70 which is in engagement with a correspondingly notched bolt 71. For this form of look a twin-key such as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is provided, two keys being used because if the tumblers at both sides of the said toothed segment 70 were symmetrically arranged, it would greatly reduce the number of possible permutations. Each member of the twin key is provided centrally with a straight section 72 which may be arranged to directly engage an opening 73 formed in the segment 7 The shanks or bodies of the two members may be offset in opposite directions as at 76 (Fig. 14.) and provided with associated, flat finger-grip extensions 74 connected by a rivet 7 5 which constitutes a pivot to permit the two members to be closed or folded over each other.

In Figs. 11 and 12 the loclnmechanism is shown embodied in a pad-lock. 'Here the rear head 35 of the barrel 30 has a plate 80 attached thereto. from which extends a locking projection 81 that is normally received in a notch 82 in the hasp 83. It is obvious that turning of the barrel swings the said projection 81 out of the notch so as to release the hasp member.

The operation of the invention will be clear from the foregoing. The key is inserted into the barrel 30 and as it advances elevates the several tumblers 45 in the path thereof, against the tension of the springs 50. Eventually the converted tumblers, that is, those having their locking lips 47 at the top, are permitted to descend again to their original positions, where they rest with their lower or wider bearing shoulders 46 on the lower portion of the bore of the casing 20, and with their locking ends away from the upper groove. In the final position of the key, the inverted tumblers, that is, those with their locking lips at the lower ends, are held lifted so that their lips clear the lower groove of the said casing 20. The two pairs of opposed supplementary locking desire to "elevate one or more of the inverted tumblers.

or will elevate one or more of the converted tumblers, or both of these'tliihgs 'will hap pen. In any event the lock could not be operated. It is obvious that if there is a relative misplaeemnt its tdd'ne of the main-- has only, the lock cannot be opened. The additional or supplementary locking grooves receive -the locking lips of one or more of the tumblers if an attempt is made to return the barrel to normal position by a key other than the proper one. The eccentricity of the barrel 30 and of the tumblers 45 with reference totlie casing 20 enables the tumblers to stand clear of the upper portion of the bore thereof. By the use of the same parts a large number of difi'erent locking combinations can be produced by varying the relative number of inverted and converted tumblers as well as their order, and by correspondingly reversing and changing the position of the key-sections 63.

Having described my invention, what I secure by Letters Patent and claim 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided With locking grooves, of a self-contained rotary barrel in said casing, said barrel being composed of laminae held rigidly against one another, and tumblers slidably guided solely by the laminae thereof adapted to engage with said grooves:

2. In device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein composed of separate sections with recesses. therebetween, tie-rods passing through said sections to hold them together, and tumblers for engagement with said grooves mounted slidahly in said recesses; I

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein composed of separate sections with recesses thereb'etween heads constituting journalpor'tionls for the barrel, rods tying said heads and sections together,- and tumblers for engagement with said grooves mounted slida .bly in said recesses;

4; In adevice' of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with locking grooves, of a rotary laminated barrel built up of alternating washers and pairs of laterally spaced segments with tie rods passingthrough the washers and segments. and tumbi'ers for engagement with said grooves held. slidably recesses formed between the opposite inher edges of said se ments and the fades of the Washers.

'5; In a device or the character described, the combination with a casing provided with diametrically "opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein, a series of integrally formed tumblers transversely movable in said barrel, a predetermined number of said tumblers being inverted for en agement with one groove and the remain e'r being converted -for engagement with the other groove, and springs for urging all of said tumblers in the same direction so as to hold said inverted tumblers in engagement with their groove and said converted tumblers away from their groove;

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein, a series of transversely movable tumblers mounted in said barrel, part being normally adapted for engagement with one groove and the remainder held away from the other groove, and individlial spring fingers secured to the sides of said barrel and bearing against each of the end portions of said tumblers so as to urge them all in the same direction.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with diametrically opposed locking' grooves, of a rotary barrel therein, a series of integrally formed tumblers transversely movable in said barrel, each tumbler having a substantially central locking lip at one end, said tumblers being in part inverted and in part converted as to their lipsand springs for urging said tumblers iii the same direction with the lips of the inverted tumblers engaged with their groovefland the lips of the converted tumblers clear of their groove.

8.ln a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a 1001iirig groove, of abarrel rotatable therein, transversely movable tumblers for engagem'ent with said grc-ove mounted in said barrel, and a comb spring having its back secured to the barrel and its teeth bearing against said tumblers;

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein, a series of transversely movable tumblers with key openings mounted in said barrel, said tumblersbeing reversible, part being inverted for engagement with one groove and the remainder being-converted for engagement with the other roove,- and springs for urging said tumblers in the s zime direction so as to hold said inverted tum;

blers in engagement with their groove and said converted tumblers from their groove, the top and bottom edges being normally in aline'ment;

10; In a deviceof the character described,

loo

mainder bein'g normally held inoperative relativetothe other groove, and individual springs for urging said tumblers all in the same direction.

; 11. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a casing having opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein, a series of transversely movable tumblers mounted in said barrel, part of said tumblers being adapted for engagement with one of said grooves and the remainder for engagement with the other groove, and springs forurging said tumblers all in the same direction, said casing having supplementary grooves for locking the barrel therewith at adjacent sides of the first men tioned grooves.

12. A lock-mechanism and key therefor, comprising a casing, a barrel in said casing, inverted and converted tumblers reversibly contained within said barrel and having apertures with beveled top and bottom edges, and a key composed of reversible sections adjustable to correspond to the permutations of said tumblers, said sections having their upper and lower transverse edges respectively ridged and grooved in the same direction, the arrangement being such that when the ridge of a key-section is turned upmost it acts against the beveled top edge of the aperture of an inverted tumbler to lift the latter, while when the groove of a section is on top it leaves a converted tumbler idle.

13. A lock mechanism and key therefor, comprising a casing. a rotatable barrel therein, tumblers yieldingly contained within said barrel and a key having two irregular edges adapted to actuate said tumblers, said key being composed of separate reversible pointed sections held rigidly together.

14. A look mechanism and key therefor, comprising a casing, a rotatable barrel therein, reversible inverted and converted tumblersyieldingly contained within said barrel and an adjustable key composed of uniform separate sections adapted to lift the inverted tumblers-and to maintain the converted tumblers in quiescence, the key sections being provided at one adjacent face with a ridge'and at the other adjacent face with-a corresponding groove.

15. A look mechanism and key therefor. comprising a casing, a rotatable barrel therein, reversible tumblers within said barrel, a-built-up key composed of reversible separate sections adapted to actuate said tumblers, the key sections being provided withza groove on one face and a correspond ing vridgeon the opposite face wherely said sections maybe nested to, correspon with the permutationsof v the tumblers and a clamping boltpassing through saidsections to hold them together. i

16. A lock-mechanism and key comprising a casing, a barrel havm a front opening mounted rotatably in sai casing, tumblers yieldingly contained in said barrel, a key having a straightstem-portion for engagements with the opening in the barrel, a plurality of tumbler actuating sections built up to constitute the body of the key, each section bein independently reversible and provided wit intercngaging means on the faces thereof, an end-section of greater thickness than the body sections and a clamping screw passing through all of said sections and having its head countersunk in the end section.

therefor 17 In a device of the character described,

looking grooves, of a rotary laminated barrel therein having end heads constituting journals and provided with retaining flanges engaging the ends of said casing, one of said flanges being removable and tumblers for engagement with said grooves held slidably between said laminae. I

' 19. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing barrel provided with opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel mounted eccentrically therein contiguous to one groove and spaced from the other, a series of transversely movable tumblers in said barrel, part of said tumblers being inverted for engagement with the former groove and the remainder being converted for engagement with the latter groove. and springs for urging said tumblers in the same direction so as to hold said inverted tumblers in engagement with their groove and said converted tumblers'spaced away from their groove I 20. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel mounted eccentrically therein contiguous to the part of the wall of the casing bearing one groove and spaced from the part of the casing wall bearing the other groove, the

contiguous portion of the barrel having a curvature conforming to the casing wall, and portions of the barrel at opposite sides being chamfered, a series of transversely movable tumblers mounted in said barrel, part being adapted for engagement with one groove and the remainder for engagement with the other groove, and flat s rings secured to said chamfered portions a apted to urge all of said tumblers in the same direction.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with diametrically opposed locking grooves, of a rotary barrel therein, a series of integrally formed tumblers transverselymovable in said barrel, each tumbler having bearing surfaces at both ends adapted to bear against the walls of the casing, the distance between said surfaces being less than the internal diameter of the casing, and each tumbler having a substantially central locking lip projecting beyond its bearing surface at one end, said tumblers being in part inverted and in part converted as to their lips, and springs for urging said tumblers in the same direction with the lips of the inverted tumblers engaged with their groove and the lips of the converted tumblers clear of their groove.

22. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having opposed locking grooves of a rotary barrel therein, a series of transversely movable tumblers mounted in said barrel, part being held in engagement with one of said grooves and the remainder being normally held inoperative relative to the other of said grooves, said tumblers being shouldered at their end portions, and spring fingers secured to the barrel and bearing directly against said shoulders so as to urge all of said tumble-rs in the same direction.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan in the county of New York and State of New York this 20th day of December A. D. 1910.

KNUT G. THIMAN.

Witnesses:

H. C. KARLSON, WM. H. Gun. 

